AC Milan suffered late heartbreak at the Gewiss Stadium as they twice came from behind but conceded an injury time winner against Atalanta to lose 3-2.
Ademola Lookman scored a goal in each half for the home team to put them in front twice, but Milan levelled firstly through Olivier Giroud’s header from a corner and then from substitute Luka Jovic.
Just as the game looked like heading for a 2-2 draw, captain Davide Calabria was sent off for a second yellow card and then Luis Muriel’s backheel a few minutes into added time stole the three points for the Bergamo side.
The result means that Milan have slipped seven points behind Juventus and could go as many as nine behind Inter who play against Udinese tonight.
Stefano Pioli made just one change to the starting line-up from the team that beat Frosinone as Olivier Giroud returned from suspension to start up front, meaning Theo Hernandez was used at centre-back again.
Atalanta had the first half-chance of the game as they took a corner short which eventually fell to Charles De Ketelaere, who stabbed a shot into the arms of Mike Maignan from inside the box though he looked offside.
Then it was Milan’s chance to threaten for the first time when Christian Pulisic was found in space down the left side, and his cross fell to Giroud whose shot was charged down by Djimsiti.
De Ketelaere missed a huge opportunity to net against his former club when Lookman nodded down a cross into his path, yet he blazed over unmarked from six yards out.
The Rossoneri should have taken the lead in the 28th minute when a corner found Tomori at the back post but his volley was straight at Musso.
Up at the other end, Maignan denied De Ketelaere as he raced through on goal and chose not to square it, however the whistle had gone for a foul in the build-up.
With seven minutes of the first half left, Atalanta took the lead. Lookman received the ball from a throw-in and was never really closed down, instead being allowed to switch onto his right foot and unleash a shot that looped in via a deflection with Maignan grounded.
Right at the end of the first half, Milan got themselves level and it was Giroud who scored against Atalanta for the first time. There was some controversy about the corner that was given because the hosts felt Musah had fouled Lookman in the build-up, but Florenzi’s outswinging corner met the head of the Frenchman who steered it past Musso.
Milan had the first chance of the second half and it was Giroud who was on the end of it again. Ruben Loftus-Cheek surged into the box down the right side and provided a pull-back that the striker fired wide of the near post.
Atalanta then threatened when Scalvini saw a gap through the middle and ran forward before firing a fierce rising shot that Maignan tipped over the bar.
In the 55th minute, Atalanta got themselves back in front and it was Lookman who scored again. The Nigerian did well to work the ball wide to De Ketelaere, who provided a low cross that was slammed into the roof of the net at the near post.
It could have been 3-1 a few minutes later when De Ketelaere again found space down the left flank, though he dragged a shot wide from a narrow angle and it went out for a throw-in.
A couple of changes came as Samuel Chukwueze was withdrawn for Ismael Bennacer, then Loftus-Cheek made way for Luka Jovic.
The game could and probably should have been put to bed inside the final 15 minutes when Scalvini tumbled through two challenges and shot with Maignan parrying the ball to Lookman before making an incredible save and then watching the rebound fired wide from close range.
They would be made to regret that big missed chance as Jovic made it 2-2 in the 80th minute. It was excellent work from from Pulisic down the left side as he rolled the ball across the six-yard box and Giroud’s dummy allowed the Serbian to sweep home from about eight yards.
There was a final bit of drama in the third minute of added time as Davide Calabria received his second yellow card for a clumsy challenge near the half way line, meaning Milan had to see the game out with 10 men.
The last twist in the tail came during the fourth minute of added time as Miranchuk was found on the right side of the box and rolled the ball to Muriel who took possession and scored past Maignan with a cheeky backheel.
